King's visiting professor Dr. Sam Frankel presents Social Learning Agenda to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
January 12, 2015
Dr. Sam Frankel, a visiting Professor of Childhood and Social Institutions and honorary fellow of the University of Sheffield has developed a learning strategy he hopes will benefit the education of school-aged children. Dr. Frankel’s research entitled the Social Learning Agenda, aims to make children partners in learning.
Dr. Frankel’s work on Social Learning looks to marry social theory and practice for children, that is applicable in real world settings so that children may benefit from being leaders in their own education. The social theory being recognized in Dr. Frankel’s Social Learning Agenda recommends children work with adults to help them navigate the social world they live in.
With the support of King’s University College, Dr. Frankel presented his Social Learning Agenda internationally to the British Parliament in London on Monday January 12, 2015. The Social Leaning Agenda consists of Dr. Frankel’s five Social Learning Pillars, tools that parents and teachers can use to help make children partners in learning.
Dr. Frankel is honoured by the reception his research has received, and the support shown to him by the King’s community. King’s will be recognized by Dr. Frankel as part of his presentation.
Dr. Frankel’s passion of working with children has been ongoing. Since the age of 16, Dr. Frankel has worked with children in various settings; in schools, churches and from a policy based side. His passion of childhood studies led him to found the charity Act 4, an organization utilizing innovative educational programs to provide children with the knowledge and skills they need to maximize their performance as learners.
His passion for improving the well-being of children has brought Dr. Frankel and his research to King’s this year, where he has been actively working on his research and preparing his Social Learning Agenda. “There’s a great CSI (Childhood and Social Institutions) program here at King’s. It’s a really extraordinary opportunity for students,” notes Dr. Frankel.
He said, “Wouldn’t it be great if King’s was a hub for CSI research?” He holds the belief that academics from all over the globe could work together to maximize children’s learning potential. “There is a lot Europe can learn from North America, and that North America can learn from Europe.”
He hopes that the Social Learning Agenda will enable children and adults alike to feel a sense of control and purpose in their own learning by accomplishing four specific goals: to value the individual child by equipping them properly as a learner; to provide a strategic framework for maximum learning potential; to make the social aspects of learning both visible and explicit; and to pursue positive impact through reflection, research and results.